FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Natural stone is one of the most popular materials for countertops, flooring, walls, patios, driveways, and much more. Granite, marble, slate, limestone, onyx and other natural stones come in a wide array of colors and patterns to suit any design style and project. Learn more about maintenance, care, and installation, and answers to frequently asked questions.

60"+

Natural Stone

"Natural Stone" refers to a number of products quarried from the earth,
used over many thousands of years as building materials and decorative enhancements.
These products include Granite, Marble,
Limestone, Travertine, Slate,
Quartzite, Sandstone, Adoquin, Onyx, and others. They are more than just rocks –
natural stone is hand selected from the best, most consistent sources for durability
and beauty.

Natural stone products differ in composition, color, and texture even among pieces
from the same source. This is usually considered a benefit, lending itself to one
of a kind designs and distinctive, dramatic applications.

In past eras, Natural
Stone has mainly been used for large-scale construction and in formal applications
such as churches and government buildings. It has also been used for road construction
and monuments. For residential construction, wood and brick have been the traditional
choice. However, there has been a growing trend in recent years to use Natural Stone
in residential construction for both structural and decorative use. Popular applications
include entryways, atriums, bathrooms, fireplaces, floors, countertops, and many
other surfaces.

Natural stone is prized its distinctive beauty and the sense of peaceful tranquility
it creates, but there are also many practical benefits to using Natural Stone in
your home. Natural Stone products are more durable than many artificial products,
often lasting for decades with very little maintenance. With Natural Stone there
are no worries about exposure to harmful chemicals in the home or released into
the environment during production or disposal. Why invest time and money into a
look-alike? Natural Stone is the real thing that the artificial products
try to emulate.

For maintenance-free elegance and durability, granite is unmatched. Its incredible
strength and density makes granite the perfect choice for massive structural work
– walls, monuments and supports. Though it is the hardest of structural stones,
the amazing variety of mineral-rich colors and natural patterns gives it ornamental
value as well. Granite products
are ideal for flooring, countertops,
vanities and decorative exterior applications.

Marble

Prized for its timeless style, texture and high-gloss polish along with a rich palette
of beautiful colors, marble has a place anywhere in the home. Available in solids
or dramatic veined varieties, marble may be carved or sculpted in many ways, making
it one of the most versatile decorative stones. Often seen as a symbol of luxury,
modern technology brings beautiful marble products even to budget-conscious homeowners.

Serpentine Marble

Also referred to as Verde Antique, Serpentine Marble is a dramatic green color with
strong white veining.

Slate

Formed over thousands of years of sedimentary deposit and compression, slate splits
naturally into beautifully textured layers. The various shades of slate products
– brown, yellow, dark gray, pink, lavender and more – may even occur within the
same piece of stone. Durable and stain-resistant, slate products are often used
for flooring, cladding and landscaping.

Quartz

Shimmering and sparkling with tiny quartz crystals, Quartz is a rock similar to
slate with a medium grained texture and incredible durability. Differing mineral
content creates many color variations, from the sedate white, gray or beige to more
adventurous shades of purple and pink. Quartzite is widely used for wall veneers
and decorative tiles. A naturally non-skid texture makes it a perfect candidate
for flooring indoors and out, including areas with heavy traffic and exposure to
the elements.

Sandstone

With a uniform texture, an appealing variety of colors and finishes, and weather
resistant durability, it's easy to see why sandstone products have been used for thousands of years for walls, floors,
and pavers. As with other types of rock, its variations result from differing mineral
composition – there's a sandstone product to match any décor.

Limestone

The muted, soft tones of limestone
are perfect for today's casual and comfortable lifestyles. Available in hues of
soft beige and tan, either polished or honed, limestone products are ideal for bathrooms,
fireplaces, countertops and flooring in low-traffic, informal areas.

Travertine

Valued for its banded, pitted “distressed” appearance, travertine adds rich, distinctive character to a variety of indoor and outdoor
building projects. Its patterns and veining effects were formed by hot spring water
percolating through underground limestone. When used for interior applications,
travertine is often filled with cement, grout or resin and sealed to create a smooth,
stain-resistant surface.

Shell Stone

Shell Stone is a sedimentary stone similar to limestone, with many small shells embedded and visible upon its surface.

Onyx

A translucent stone with a glossy, polished surface, onyx is composed of crystalline silica and closely related to agate, a semi-precious
stone. Often found in caves, onyx is formed by the slow flow of cold, carbonated
spring water. Onyx is available in pastel shades of yellow, brown, green, orange,
and white.

Cantera Stone

Cantera is a sedimentary stone that comes from the riverbeds of Mexico. It is used
extensively for architectural columns, moldings, and for pavement tiles.

The most important difference is this – Natural Stone is a product of nature, and
Ceramics are man-made. Most man-made materials cannot compare in durability to natural
ones. While damaged ceramic tiles usually need replacing, natural stone usually
needs minimal restoration if stained or scratched. Other differences are explained
below:

CERAMIC

Homogenous composition

Low absorbency, thin and lightweight, corrugated backing

Acid resistant

Have only one plain finish and practically no edge finishes.

The sizes in ceramics are restricted and patterns are very uniform and geometric.

NATURAL STONE

Unique composition

Differs from category to category

Acid sensitivity varies from stone to stone.

Have a whole spectrum of finishes like Polished, Honed, Antiquated, Tumbled, Leather,
Rugged (Split face, River Rough, River Wash, Flamed) and more. Different types of
edges like beveled, bull-nosed etc. are possible.

No size restriction. Available in huge slabs as large as 125' X 75' or in small

Natural Stone can be used on nearly every surface both inside and outside the home,
including floors, kitchen countertops,
vanity tops, bathrooms, patios, walkways, fireplaces, facades, wall cladding, and
garden landscaping.

Countertops in kitchens and bar areas
are often exposed to acidic substances such as lemon, vinegar, alcohol, and tomato
sauce. Knives, dishes, pots and pans, and other implements may cause scratching
of lesser materials. Granite
is the hardest and densest of all natural stones – the feldspar content keeps it
water resistant, and the silicates it contains won't react with acid. These properties
help Granite resist staining and retain its fine luster over a longer period of
time than ceramic tiles or other stones.

Although Marble is commonly requested for countertops in bars and kitchens, marble's
high carbonate content makes it vulnerable to acidic substances.

The family or living room in a home is a place for peace and relaxation, and the
soft, muted tones and textures of limestone
or travertine are the perfect
touch. Available in shades of beige, tan, yellow and gold and processed with a tumbled
or antiqued texture, limestone complements all types of furniture and upholstery.

Homeowners often enjoy bathrooms with bold colors and smooth, flowing patterns.
Marble is the perfect choice for this
application due to its wide spectrum of available colors. It also lends itself well
to carved patterns and details, creating both traditional and artistic designs.
While kitchen countertops are often exposed to acidic substances, bathroom countertops
are more likely to be exposed to alkaline products, which do not react with Marble.

The earth tones and rustic look of slate create a comfortable, natural look that
is right at home with exterior landscaping and interior garden designs. Slate is naturally slip resistant,
even when wet, and is much less likely to show dust and dirt than polished granite or marble. It's also relatively low
priced, which makes it a great choice for large, informal areas.

Sources of natural stone with desirable qualities are found all over the world,
in many different locations. Some sources are better than others due to the stones'
appearance, hardness, and other qualities. Therefore, stone may be quarried in China,
India, Africa, South America, and some does come from within United States borders.

Cost of processing is also a factor. Since natural stone has been used as a building
material for thousands of years in many locations overseas, those areas have a long-established
system for quarrying and processing these stones which is efficient and economical.

Natural stone from different areas contains a varying mix of mineral deposits and
rock formations. For example, the mineral Mica may be found more frequently in some
areas, which means that the rock from that location will contain bigger shiny crystals
than we would find in places where less Mica is found. Some countries quarry more
limestone than granite. Therefore,
stone from certain places may be better suited for one application than another.
Natural stone qualities and characteristics differ due to geological formations,
not geographical boundaries.

Some types of stone are better suited for interior applications than exterior because
they cannot withstand harsh weather extremes and may crack, crumble, or fade. Also,
stones with naturally slip-resistant surfaces are better for outdoor walkways or
patios than those with smooth, polished surfaces. Some multicolored slates bleed
color upon contact with water.

The Marble Institute of America has a great technical bulletin describing some very simple do-it-yourself diagnostic tests to differentiate quartzites from marbles, granites, and other natural stones.
You can download the bulletin
here.

Cost of Stone

Stones that are harder and denser are more difficult and expensive to quarry and process. Quarrying methods vary as well; stones may be quarried below ground, which is more expensive than above ground. Also, since natural stone is quarried all over the world, long distance shipping factors into the price.

The larger the stone, the more difficult it is to process, handle, pack, and transport.
Larger sizes also tend to have a higher amount of waste compared to the part that
is used, which makes them more expensive.

The availability of a particular stone is the most important factor in determining
price. However, handling and transportation cost does drop slightly for a larger
quantity. The best way to reduce cost is to find a stone dealer who is running a
special on a particular product.

Stone Finishes

Unique to slate, it has a slightly
uneven surface that is still usable for flooring. This finish cannot be created,
but occurs naturally as the layers of slate are quarried. One side (back side) can
be gauged to facilitate ease of “thin set” installation. Some marbles, sandstones
and limestones are available with heavy clefting, suitable for wall installations
only.

Polished

Grinding, sanding, and buffing produces a high gloss, mirror-like surface.

Honed

Grinding and sanding produces a smooth, yet not glossy finish. This is best for
low maintenance, high traffic applications.

Flamed

A flamed surface is achieved by subjecting the stone to the high temperature flame
of a torch and burning most of the carbon content, leaving textured quartzites with
gentle coloration.

Sandblasted

This is a rough, but tidy look created by applying a high pressure blast of sand
to the stone’s surface.

River Wash

This finish is often given to granites, and provides a non-slippery surface while
retaining the coloration and grain structure of the stone.

Leather

Available only in Melange marble, this finish gives the stone a suede look and feel.
This texture is smooth and slip-resistant.

Tumbled

Tumbling stones in a solution of sand, water and mild acid creates an old world,
weathered look.

Split Face

Mainly used for cladding, this is achieved by splitting stone either by hand or
by machine so that the surface exhibits a natural quarry texture. It has a flat
back and uneven front surface, and creates the uneven look of protruding bricks.

Fleuri Cut

This is achieved by cutting quarried marble or stone parallel to the natural bedding
plane.

Cross-Cut

The cross-cut method involves end-cutting blocks of travertine to display a less
linear, more rounded “wavy” pattern.

Vein Cut

Opposite of cross-cutting, the veining of the stone is shown as a linear pattern.

Veneer Stone

Any stone used as a decorative facing material as wall cladding which is not meant
to be load-bearing. Veneer may be made from different finishes, such as split face,
cleft, honed, polished, flamed or tumbled.

Gauged vs. Ungauged

Slate is cleft out of blocks to form tiles. When it is cleft by machine or saw,
it is gauged because a uniform thickness is formed. Ungauged stone is hand-cleft
and its thickness may vary up to 5/8 of an inch.

Marble is considered one of the softer natural stones. Bullnose marble tiles are
rounded tiles used for corners and edges. It is advised that marble bullnose tiles
be fabricated by a professional using a grinder and bugging pad.

There are three important reasons for choosing one finish over another in certain
applications:

Safety

When choosing flooring, it's important to choose a slip-resistant surface for outdoor
applications where the floor may become wet. Highly polished surfaces should only
be used for interior floors. Also, highly clefted, uneven surfaces may cause a tripping
hazard when used for flooring.

Maintenance

Softer, less dense stones such as marble
or limestone are unsuitable for
high traffic areas because they will quickly become dull and will need frequent
restoration to maintain their finish.

Usability

The application should be consistent with the type of finish selected. A rough finish
such as flamed would be a poor choice for countertops, due to the difficulty in
cleaning it. Clefted material should not be used for tabletops, because it would
present an uneven surface.

Polished flooring may be used in a commercial application if the floor is unlikely
to become wet and slippery. It is advisable to have the floor material professionally
tested prior to installation. Sealers are available that can improve the slip resistance
of the surface without removing its gloss.

Travertine is characterized by
the presence of many tiny holes, caused by trapped gas bubbles during its formation.
This creates a porous, uneven surface, which is referred to as Unfilled Travertine.
When these cavities are filled with cement or another material, the result is called
Filled Travertine and may be honed and polished to provide a uniform surface similar
to marble.

Slate with a heavily cleft finish may
create a tripping hazard. Most slates are lightly clefted and suitable for flooring
in kitchens, bathrooms and on patios. A pallet of slate may contain a few pieces
with heavy clefting, but these are generally not used for the flooring installation.

The thermal, or flamed finish is achieved by subjecting the stone to the high-temperature
flame of a torch. This burns off most of the carbon content, creating textured quartzites
with gentle coloration. Only granite is tough enough to withstand this treatment,
and the piece must be fairly thick or it may crack or break under heat and pressure.
This is a popular finish for commercial wall and flooring applications.

Tumbling stones in a solution of sand, water and mild acid creates an old world,
weathered look. Typically sizes of 5/8" X 5/8" to 6"X 6" and
sometimes even 8"X 8" are true tumbled pieces. Larger sizes are given
a "Tumbled" finish, manually. Very small pieces like 5/8" X 5/8"
& 1" X 1" are usually, mounted on 12" X 12" meshes for ease
of installation. Most commonly used size is 4" X 4" and it is used in
straight & diamond patterns, or as accent pieces. When mixing different size
tumbled pieces, the look may vary.

Tumbled stone pieces are intended to produce a rustic, old-world look. Therefore,
they are not created with precision and may vary slightly in size. Some pieces may
have large chips on the edges or may have a corner missing. Care must be taken to
ensure an even surface when installing tumbled stone flooring.

Stone Installation

Creating an installation without visible grout joints is difficult, but if the surface
of the floor is straight and the tiles are perfectly cut, very little grout should
be seen. A professional, experienced installer should be chosen to create this look.

Because stone is a natural product, there is always some variation within a selection.
By sorting out the stone tiles before installing, it is possible to place the tiles
on the surface before installing, blending the varying colors, grain, and veining
as desired.

Grout is an important design element. Because it is used to fill the spaces between
each tile, the grout must be selected carefully. A wide variety of grout colors
is available to enhance the beauty of the tile installation and may be chosen to
contrast with, match, or accent the tile.

Contrast Grout: emphasizes a pattern created by the tile.

Matching Grout: blends seamlessly with the tile.

Accent Grout: a shade slightly different from the tile, gives them an appearance of depth.

No. It is not recommended that marble tiles be installed directly on wood flooring
or any other flooring that moves. The movement can cause tile to crack. The best
solution is to have cement board installed by a professional installer over the
surface to be tiled.

Depending on the installation pattern, experts recommend adding 10%-15% of the total
square feet of the project to ensure you have enough natural stone tile. It is advisable
to add another 5%-10% for future fixes in the event of breakage.

Granite, marble, and slate may be available in nearly any color,
so it may be possible to specify stone color, with some tolerance for shade differences.
Not all stones are available in all colors, however. Travertines, for example, are
only found in shades of beige, yellow, and gold.

Each stone is unique, and some types of stone display more variation between the
pieces than others. Granites show little variation in color, but may have differing
patterns and grain density. Slates tend to show a wide variation in color, even
within the same pallet of stone.

The grain structure in a piece of stone was formed during an igneous stone's cooling
process. The slower the stone cooled, the larger the grains. “Grain” refers to the
crystalline and flowery patterns visible on the stone's surface. Some stones, particularly
marble and granite, have a great amount of veining, which is caused by the distribution
of various minerals within the stone.

Granite is a natural stone,
and Corian is a man-made material. As a plastic-based material, Corian is more prone
to scratching, deformation and loss of finish due to heat. Granite is more durable,
easy to maintain, resistant to scratches and stains – and much more appealing to
the eye. Granite is available in a wider range of colors than Corian, and costs
less as well.

Care and Maintenance

Stone surfaces are very easy to maintain. Clean stone floors with warm water and
a mild liquid soap. Never use acid cleansers or abrasive chemicals on stone. Natural
stone should be sealed after installation and every one to two years thereafter,
depending on its application.

There is no set rule on how often to seal your natural stone. Sealing can be as
frequent as six months for higher traffic areas on marble, slate, travertine, and
limestone or every couple of years for granite countertops. Also some sealers provide
for only a single application every ten years. Please review the guidelines for
each individual sealer.

All natural stone including marble and granite, must be properly sealed to protect
againt staining. Without proper and regular sealing, granite and other natural stones
are pourous and can absorb spilled substances and leave unsightly stains and marks.

If your marble tiles, travertine tiles or granite countertops have a stain, consult
a restoration professional. A Poultice kit is another stain removal option, this
product can be found at most home improvement stores.

Adding depth and shine to travertine tiles can be accomplished through the application
of enhancing sealers made specifically for travertine tile. Enhancing sealers are
available at most home improvement and hardware stores.

Part of the beauty of travertine tilles, is the natural composition causes small
voids and holes. If however, you want a smoother surface, the best way to fill the
holes is to use a sanded grout in a color as close to the travertine as possible.

The tiles themselves do not need to be sealed; however the grout should be sealed
to prevent stains. Because of the amount of grout and the small size of the mosaic
tiles, it is easier to seal the entire surface or use a pre-sealed grout.

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